Pete Lambert

Friday

1. Why are you seeking this office, and why should voters support you?

I am seeking re-election as parish councilman District 9 to complete many of the hurricane, drainage and read and bridge projects that have been started under my term.

2. What is your political philosophy, and why do you belong to your political party?

I am a Democrat.

3. There has been a lot of community discussion about the need for federal money to help build Terrebonne a hurricane-protection system. Is there anything the parish can do to provide better hurricane and flood protection? What actions, if any, would you as a council member take or initiate to address this issue?

I the last four years as parish councilman in District 9, we have completely rebuilt the upper Montegut pump station, raised the single pump behind the Carnival Club building, added a fourth pump station in lower Montegut station, constructed a new pump station in lower Pointe-aux-Chenes and added an extra pump on Texas Gulf Road. The Ward 7 levee has been completely reconstructed from Boudreaux Canal to the Lashbrook pump station. The Montegut levee has been rebuilt in 20000 at its worst section and armored on the marsh side with cement broken from the airport runway. The Pointe-aux-Chenes levee is at present being lifted in two locations, which were determined to be the lowest sections. All of these projects make District 9 better to handle flooding.

4. What do you think are the two biggest problems the parish is facing, and what would you do to solve them?

Our two biggest problems are hurricane protection and the rising cost of home insurance. Hurricane protection will take a three-tier system of protection: barrier island rebuilding, Morganza to the Gulf hurricane levee and rebuilding our forced drainage levees as a last line of defense. Insurance will have to have the help our U.S. Reps and Senators, along with ever Parish Council and Police Jury in the entire state of Louisiana working together to solve what I call the storm after the storm.

5. In 2005, parish government's revenue advisory committee offered a lot of suggestions for the parish to save money and streamline services. Yet many of the recommendations have not been addressed. The report is posted on the parish government Web site, tpcg.org. Would you take action on any of these recommendations? If so, which ones and why? If not, what specific suggestions, if any, do you have for making government work more efficiently or saving taxpayers money, and what would you do to get those suggestions enacted? What are your opinions on the current coastal restoration and hurricane protection plans? How can they be improved?

The parish government did act on some of the Revenue Advisory Committee's recommendations. Not all were acted on because it is a slow process and much study and debating has to go into these recommendations just as is being done at the present with the parish and utility system.

6. Developers have complained that the permitting process for new buildings in Terrebonne has become cumbersome, stifling development. This is particularly true, critics say, as developers are forced to adhere to new building codes mandated by the state in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Do you agree or disagree that this is a problem? If it is, what would you do about it? If not, explain your reasoning?

When the Parish Council voted to adopt the new building codes sent down by the state, I was the sole nay vote.

7. What is your stance on the parish-owned utility system? Keep, sell or lease?

The parish-owned utility system is presently being studied and as a sitting councilman I am keeping an open mind and will wait for the results that we have requested.

8. What is your stance on zoning? If you're for it, what area would you zone next?

The recent zoning of portions of La. 311 and Bayou Cane passed in the council by a vote of 7-0. I abstained because I felt then and feel now that it should have went to a vote of those voters and not decided by the Parish Council.

9. In the mid-1980s, the parish consolidated its government, yet vestiges of the old system remain. What action, if any, would you take to consolidate the parish's recreation districts? The road lighting districts? Houma Police and the sheriff's office? The fire districts? Explain your reasoning?

I am a representative of the bayou. We have been burnt by consolidation in the past and I am not for any further consolidation in the future.

10. What are the parish’s biggest infrastructure needs, and where would you find the money to pay for the improvements?

The parish's biggest infrastructure needs are the Prospect Street bridge and La. 311. The bridge is presently scheduled for construction and it is our duty to make this as smooth a transition as possible. We have been requesting left and right turn lanes at every possible intersection to ease traffic where ever it is possible. La. 311 is two fold. It will gradually have to be widened, if not to four lanes, at least to three lanes with a permanent turn lane in the middle. The second relief will come from extending Valhi Blvd. to the U.S. 90 overpass. This will parallel La. 311 and offer a second rout in the Thibodaux and Morgan City direction.

INDICATE YOUR PREFERENCES

A.) Land-use laws should be expanded to the unincorporated parts of the Parish. Somewhat disagree.

B.) Improving drainage is one of the parish’s most pressing needs. STRONGLY AGREE

C.) The stricter building codes are necessary and should be followed to the letter. Disagree somewhat.

D.) The structural integrity of our levees should take precedence over landowner’s wishes for a culvert or bridge. Agree somewhat.

E.) New development should be limited in flood-prone areas. Disagree somewhat.

F.) The Houma Police Department should be consolidated with the Terrebonne Sheriff’s Office. Neutral.

G) The city limits should be expanded. Neutral.

H) The parish should pass another tax to pay for hurricane protection until Morganza to the Gulf is built. Agree somewhat.

I) Parish government should have more money say over mental-care services offered in Terrebonne. Agree somewhat.